Sat, Jun 19, 2021
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Everything You need to know about Apidra and Insulin Glulisine
Have you recently been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? If so, your doctor may have prescribed Insulin Glulisine to you. Glulisine may sound like a fancy word but in essence, It is a short-acting form of insulin that helps in glycemic index control (aka your sugar levels).
Now if you recently been diagones with diabetes, your brain is probably facing information overlead. But don’t worry, we got you cover. We’ll discuss the possible side effects, pro and cons, and its alternatives.
Insulin Glulisine is a form of short insulin that acts fast and regulates blood sugar levels for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This insulin gets made by Apidra.
Unfortunately, there are no generic alternatives available for Insulin Glulisine.
Insulin Glulisine comes in the following dosage forms.
Carton with five 3ml cartridges and five 3 ml Solostar pens
100 units/ml of 3ml cartridge
100 units/ml of 3ml Solostar pens
10ml of 100 units/ml vials
Your doctor will recommend the correct dosage for you based on your sugar levels, your weight, and your responsiveness to insulin. Accordingly, you should purchase the dosage you require.
Now that you know what Insulin Glulisine is, you might wonder how it works to control your blood sugar levels.
Insulin Glulisine is considered a Bolus Insulin, which means it begins showing its effects within 15 minutes after being injected. It injects high levels of insulin in a short period. Moreover, it mimics the properties of endogenous insulin from the pancreas (as do most insulins).
Insulin Glulisine is biosynthetic insulin that gets produced in a non-pathogenic lab. The main difference between Glulisine and human insulin lies in the position of lysine in B3 and Glutamic acid in B29. These structural modifications enable stabilization of Insulin Glulisine monomers and ensure the increased absorption rate by your body.
Essentially, Insulin Glulisine works in 15 minutes, and its effects last for 2-5 hours.
Suppose you got prescribed Insulin Glulisine to control your blood sugar levels. There are some tips to keep in mind for using it effectively.
It would help if you injected Insulin Glulisine 15 minutes before or immediately after your meal to level the blood sugar-lowering effects.
If your Insulin Glulisine is cloudy or colored, it is contaminated, DO NOT use it.
You should administer Insulin Glulisine subcutaneously (under the skin).
It gets recommended to rotate your injection site to avoid hard lumps and bruising.
Ensure you store your unopened vials in a refrigerator. Opened vials will last at room temperatures only for 28 days.
If your diet is not conducive to Insulin Glulisine, you will face a low blood sugar level. Its symptoms include shaky feeling, nervousness or anxiousness, racing heartbeat, chills or sweating, sleepy feeling, excessive hunger, weakness or low energy.
If your blood sugar levels drop after the Insulin Glulisine, eat 15g of fast-acting sugar. Fast-acting sugar includes candy, half a can of regular soda or fruit juice.
Ensure you consult your doctor if you have any questions regarding using Insulin Glulisine.
Give and take is how most things work in life and it is no different with Insulin Glulisine. Even when it works well for your body, you might face some unwanted side effects. You must consult or talk to your doctor if you get any of the following side effects. They will guide you on what to do.
Some common side effects include the following:
Severe hypoglycemia
Allergic reactions
Low levels of potassium
Common cold
Respiratory tract infection
Joint pain
High blood pressure
Weight gain
Administration site irritation, pain, itching, bruising, or swelling
Racing and rapid heartbeat
Headache
Loss of consciousness
Voice loss or slurred speech
Seizures
Shakiness
Sneezing
Sore throat, or stuffy or runny nose
Unusual tiredness or weakness
Some uncommon side effects of Insulin Glulisine are the following:
Slow heartbeat
Ringing or pounding in the ears
You may feel some side effects initially as your body gets used to the Insulin Glulisine. However, you must consult your medical practitioner to alleviate the side effects or look into the Insulin Glulisine dosage if they persist.
While your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of Insulin Glulisine, it would help you to read it too. If you got prescribed Insulin Glulisine for your Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, you might ponder these pros and cons.
Works quickly
Available as insulin pen, syringe and vial and pump
You can administer 15 minutes before or 20 minutes after a meal
The effect lasts for 2-5 hours
It lowers sugar levels in the first hour after a meal
Insulin Glulisine’s duration and action is not affected by your body weight
Needs to get administered several times a day
Your kidney and liver would need monitoring if you have any issues
Quite expensive so purchase it from a Licensed Canadian Pharmacy to save a pretty penny.
When mixed with other insulins, IV or pump cannot get used
Only one type of syringe can get used while administering Insulin Glulisine
Insulin Glulisine is rapid-action insulin that helps control your glycemic index if you have diabetes mellitus Type 1 or Type 2. Your doctor will prescribe the correct dosage as per your body weight, sugar levels, and your responsiveness to insulin.
You will need to inject it several times a day. However, its effect sets in within 15 minutes of administration and lasts for 2-5 hours.
Like any medicine, it has its side effects. Ensure you consult your doctor if any side effects persist.
At the end of the day, listen to your doctor!